ArcOP Expedition is cancelled

The ECORD Science Operator (ESO) regrettably announces the cancellation of IODP Expedition 377 Arctic Ocean Paleoceanography (ArcOP), scheduled for August to October 2018.

Implementation of this complex and costly multi-platform expedition to the central Arctic Ocean required significant levels of in-kind contribution from IODP and non-IODP members. Although some contributions were offered, they were not at the level required to implement the expedition in 2018 within the budget available. ECORD and ESO greatly appreciate the in-kind contribution of a support icebreaker offered by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany.

The potential future scheduling of Expedition 377 will be considered by ECORD Council and its Facility Board in the coming weeks.

Additionally, the current staffing exercise for the expedition has been halted. Further announcements will be made via IODP-related channels in due course, and a new Call for Scientists will be issued if the expedition is rescheduled.